Railway-traffic-controlling apparatus



"April 8, 1930. P. N. BOSSART ,7 3, 8

RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed July 9, 1929 Coz'zzkalle' 52 by vFhziflb Condizwzza INVENTOR I /V. 60 65 1 Patented Apr. 8, 193%{PAUL in; BOSSART, or: swrssvALE, PENNSYLVANIA, :essmnon T :TH-E'urrronswrrcrr &1 sIGrIAL COMPANY, or SWISSVALE,YIFENNSYL-VANIA,A'CORPORATZON or PENN- SYLVANIA RAILWAY-THAIFIC-CQNTROLLING ArrARA'rnsApplication filed. July 9, 1929. Serial 'No."e'77,o40.

' invention relates to railwaytraffic controll'ing apparatus, andparticularly toappa'ratus of thetype wherein periodically in- "terruptedcurrents are supplied'to the track 1 rails for the control of trains.

I will describe one formof appar'atus'embodying my invention, and willthen point out the novel features thereof in claims.

The accompanying drawing is a'diagramm'at-ic Viewillustratingone form ofapparag current from a track transformer T, thesecondary "30 of which isconstantly connected withthe rails through a reactance X adjacenttheexit end of the section. The primary 29 of transformer T is at timessupplied with alternating current from the secondary 32 of a transformerL, the'primary 33 of which isconstantly connected with an alternator G.The supply of current to the primary 29 of transformer T is controlledby a relay E "whichrin turn, is controlled by tratfic conditions ina'manner not'shown. The supply of current to the primary 29 of transformerT is also controlled by coding apparatus embodying my invention, whichis designated,

' in'general, by the reference character D, and

which Iwillnow describe.

Thecoding apparatus D comprises a contact mechanism which isperiodically'operated at aconstant frequency, and two neutral relays Aand B of any suitable type. As here shown, the contact mechanism is aflash er 'relay'C comprising awinding 38 and three contacts 37 1 and 35,but this type of contact mechanism'is not essential to my invention."R'layAisproyided with-a main winding'2 havin arelati vel 7 e number oftTIIilS an" auxiliary winding 3 lravlnga relatively small 'numberof'turns,a11d two contacts 4 "and- 5. R'el'ay'B is-p'rovidedwitha'winding 7 and a'conta'ct 8.

The winding 38"0f relay" G is supplied with current over its "one backcentact 37 "from a battery R, and itwill be apparent, therefore, thatrelay C will"become energized and deenergize d alternately, so th'at itscontacts are periodically opened and closed. The parts of relay C are soproportioned that this alternate energizationand de energization willtake place at ac'onstant predetermined frequency. The' relays A and B"are controlled by contactl'of relay C. Asshown'in the drawing, relays Aand B are 'b'oth "de energized andronta'ct 1 is" open. Under theseconditions; when contact 1 closes current flows from a suitable sourceof electromotive f'orce,

here "shown as abatt'ery9, through wire 10, a fuse 11,wirei12;winding 3of relay A,wires '13' and 14:, winding 7 of'rel'ay B,"wires 15 and i 16,backpoint of contact 4 of relayA, wire 17,

'frontcontact 1 of relay G; andw'ires 19 and 20 back to'battery 9.The-parts arei-so proportioned that this current flowing 'in'winding 3of relay A does not energize relay'A; but this current flowing inWinding 7 of relay B is suifici'ently large to 'en'ergizemelay B. Whenrelay'B becomes energizedlt closes its front contact 8, and asl'ong ascontact 1' remains closed,' winding2 of relay 'A'is then shortcircuitedover a circuit which passes from winding 2 through wire 22, frontcontact 8' of relay B, wires 23 and 19,'fr0ntcontact1 of relay C, wire17,-back point of 'contact 4 of relay A, and wires 16 and 21 back towinding 2 of relay A. When contact 1 opensyhowever thisshort circuit "isopened and winding 2-is theninclud'ed in a circuit wli-ichpasses frombattery 9 through wire 10, fu'se '11, wire 12,*winding 3 of relay-A,wires '13 and 14, winding 7 of relay B.wires 15 and 21, winding 2 ofrelay Arwire 22, front contact 8 of relay B, and wires 23 and-20 back-tobattery 9. findings-2 and 3 of relay A are connected in this lattercircuit in SUCh IDELUIIQI' that the fluxes produced in core 6 of relayAby the current flowing in these windings are additive and relay Atherefore becomes energized. lVhen relay A becomes energized, contact 4opens its back point and closes its front point, and contact 5 becomesclosed. It will be noted that winding 7 of relay B is also included inthe circuit last traced so that as long as this circuit is closed, relayB remains energized and holds its contact 8 closed. As a result, whencontact 1 next closes, winding 2 of relay A and winding 7 of relay B areshort-circuited over a circuit which passes from winding 2 of relay Athrough wires 21 and 15, winding 7 of relay B, wires 1:1- and 24, frontpoint of contact 4 of relay A, wire 17, front contact 1 of relay C,wires 19 and 23, frontcontaet 8 of relay B, and wire 22 back to winding2. This short circuit causes relay B to become de-energized, but relay Aremains energized because, under these conditions, a large current issupplied to winding 3 of relay A over a circuit which passes frombattery 9 through wire 10, fuse 11. wire 12. winding 3 of relay A, wires13 and 24:. front point of contact 4 of relay A, wire 17. front contact1 of relay C, and wires 1.9 and 20 back to battery 9. W hen contact 1next opens, however, the circuit just traced is interrupted and relay Athen becomes de-energized so that contact 4: opens its front point andcloses its back point, and contact 5 opens. The parts of the codingapparatus D are then restored to the positions in which they areillustrated in the drawing. and when contact 1 next closes, the cycle ofevents just described starts to repeat itself.

It should be pointed out that, in actual practice. the resistance of thecircuit which is com pleted when contact 1 of relay (l and front pointof contact 4 of relay A are both closed is practically all due to theresistance of winding 3 of relay A. As a result. if some of the turns ofwinding 3 become short-circuited for any reason, the current flowing inthe turns of winding 3 which are not short-circuited will increase by anamount which is proportional to the decrease in resistance of thiscircuit due to the short-circuited turns. and the ampere turns acting oncore 6 of relay A would therefore remain substantially constant. so thatthe coding apparatus would continue to function in the manner described.Furthermore, if the connections to winding 3 are made in such mannerthat the external circuit makes at'least a portion of a turn around.core 6 of relay A. then. in the event of a total short circuit onwinding 3, the ampere turns acting on core 6 of relay A would stillremain constant for the reasons pointed out above, and the apparatuswould function as described. It will be noted. however, that a fuse 11is includedin the circuit for wind ing 3, and this fuse is soproportioned that, in case the winding 3 is completely short-circuited,the fuse will blow out, thereby protecting battery 9. This fuse,however, is not essential to my invention.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that relay A becomes energizedone time each two times contact 1 is opened and closed, and it follows,therefore, that relay A is energized one time each two times relay C isoperated. Contact 5 of relay A is closed each time relay A is energized.It follows, therefore, that contact 5 is periodically opened and closedat half the frequency at which relay C is operated. It should benoticed, also, that contact 5 is opened and closed equal intervals oftime.

When relay E is energized, primary 29 of transformer T is supplied withcurrent over a circuit which is periodically interrupted by contact 35of relay C and which passes from secondary 32 of transformer L throughwire 31, primary 29 of transformer T, wire 28, front point of contact 27of relay E, wire 36, front contact 35 of relay C, and wires 34 and 25back to secondary It will be apparent, therefore, that under theseconditions the train controlling current supplied to the track rails 41and 41 from secondary 30 of transformer T is periodically interrupted atthe frequency of operation of relay C. When relay E is de-energized,however, primary 29 of transformer T is then supplied with current overa circuit which is periodically interrupted by front contact 5 of relayA and which passes from secondary 32 of transformer L through wire 31,primary 29 of transformer T, wire 28, back point of contact 27 of relayE, wire 26, front contact 5 of relay A, and wire 25 back to secondary 32of transformer L. Under these latter conditions, the track rails 41 andell. are supplied with train controlling current from the secondary 30of transformer T which is periodically inter rupted at the frequency ofoperation of relay A. Since relay A operates at half the frequency ofrelay C, it will be apparent that the current supplied to the trackrails is periodically interrupted at one frequency when relay E isenergized, and at half this frequency when relay E is de-ei'iergized.

The apparatus shown herein is suitable for cooperation with traincarried mechanism receiving energy from the track rails and selectivelyresponsive to the frequency, at which the train controlling current inthe rails is interrupted.

lVhile I have illustrated coding apparatus embodying my invention asapplied to the control of trackway currents in a train control system,it should be particularly pointed out that my invention is not limitedto this use but is applicable wherever it is desired to operate onecontact at half the frequency at which another contact is periodicallyoperated.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of apparatusembody- 'maawsa 1 ing -my invention, it is understood' thatvarious"changes'andmodificanons bemade therein 'i'i'thln the scope ofthe a upended claims without departing from-the spirit and scope of myinvention.

' cally operated, two relays, means controlled by said contact mechanismand'by both -sa1d relays for energizing one of said relays one time eachtwo times said contactinechanism is operated, a source of traincontrollingcurrent, and-means for supplying current from said source tothe rails of sai d stretch under the control 0182116!COH'CZLCt'HlQCllELHISHl or said one relay in accordance withtrafiic conditions. 2. In 'combmation, a stretch of railway track,a'contact mechanism which is periodi- "cally operated, two relays, meanscontrolled by said contact mechanism and by both said relays forenergizing said relays one time each two times said contact mechanism isoperated, means controlled by said contact inechanism for at timessupplying train controlling current to the rails of said stretch, andmeans controlled'by one of said relays for atother times supplying traincontrolling current to the rails of said stretch.

3. In combination, astretch of railway track, a contact mechanismwhichisperiodlcally operated, two relays, means controlled by said contactmechanism and by both said relays for alternately energizing said relays"one time each two times said contact mechanism is operated, meanscontrolled by said contact 'mechanism forwat times supplying 7 traincontrolling current to the rails ofsaid stretch, and means controlledby'oneof said relays for at other times supplying train controlledcurrent to the rails-of said stretch.

l. in combination, a st-retch'of railway track, a first relaywhichisenergized and deenergized alternately, a second and a third relay, meansfor at times energizing said-second relay when said first relay becomesenergized, means for energizing said third relay when said first relaysubsequently becomes de-energized, means for de-ener'gizlng saidsecondrelay when said first relayneXt becomes ener ized means forde-ener izim C! 7 b b i at times-energizing the first relay when said"contact" b comes closedgmeans for'energizing the second' 'relaywhensaid first relay is energi'zed and said contact is subsequentlyopened, means'=for de energizing said first relay whensaid second relayis energizedand said contaet-next becomes closedfm'eans forde-energizing I said second re'lay when said contact is again'op'ened, asource oftra'in controlling current, and -means for 1 supplying currentdir'o m saidsourceto the rails of said stretch under the control of saidcontact mechanism or said second relay in accordance with -traflicconditions.

combination,a stretch of railway tr-ack,--a first relay'which isenergized and-de- -energi zed alternately,-a-second and a thirdlaygmeans including aback contact of said second' rel'ay for at timesenergizing said -third relay whensaid first relay becomes on f 5 ergizedg means including a front contact of said thirdrelay for energizingsaid second relay whensaid first 1 relay is subsequently deener i zed,means including a front contact of said second relay for file-energizingsaid th'i-rd relay when; sa'idfirst relay nextbecomes energi zed,:1neansfor main'tainingsaid second rel-ay in i'tsenergized condition after saidf-third relay becomes de-energized until said fi-irst re-lay againbecomes de-energized, a --source of train controlling current, and meansrfor supplying current from said source tothe railsof said stret'chunder the control "of said fir'strelay or said second relay inaccordance with 'tralfic conditions. -7 In combination, a stretch ofrailway tr'ack, a contact "mechanism comprising a first contactwhich isperiodically opened and el-osed,-' a first and a second relay, meansincludin'ga back "contact of saidffirst relay for at #timesenergizing-said second relay when said: first contact beco'mes closed, 7means ineluding a firont contact of said second relay for energizin saidfirstrelay' when said first "contact is subsequently opened, meansinclud- -:inga fr ont contact of said firstrelay for'de- "energizingsaid second relay when said first contactfne xtlbecomes closed, meansincluding said front contact of said first relay'for' maintaining saidfirst relay in its energized condi- "tion al ter sa'id second relaybecomes de-en *erg lzed until said first contact is again openedy'asourceof train controlling current, "and mean's for supplying currentfrom said source to :the rails of said stretch under the control I ofsaid" contact mechanism or said first felay-in accord'ance withtralficconditions.

in combination, a stretch of railway track, a contact mechanismcomprising a first winding, said third winding, a back contact of saidfirst relay, and said first contact; a

second circuit including said second winding, said third winding, saidfirst winding, and a front contact of said second relay; a third circuitincluding said second winding, a front contact of said first relay, andsaid first con tact; a source of train controlling current, and meansfor supplying current from said source to the rails of said stretchunder the control of said contact mechanism or said first relay inaccordance with trafiic conditions.

9. In combination, a stretch of railway track, a first relay which isperiodically energized and tie-energized, a second relay having a firstand a second winding made up of a relatively large and a relativelysmall number of turns, respectively, a third relay having a thirdwinding, a source of current; a first circuit including said source,said second winding, said third winding, a back contact of said secondrelay, and a front contact of said first relay; a second circuitincluding said source, said second winding, said third winding, saidfirst winding, and a front contact of said third relay, said first andsecond windings being connected in said second circuit in such mannerthat the fluxes produced in the core of said second relay by currentfrom said source in said windings are additive; a third circuitincluding said source, said second winding, a front contact of saidsecond relay, and said front contact of said first relay; a source oftrain controlling current, and means for supplying current from saidsource to the rails of said stretch under the control of said firstrelay or said second relay in accordance with traific conditions.

10. In combination, a stretch of railway track, a first relay which isperiodically energized and tie-energized, a second and a third relay,means for at times energizing said second relay when said first relaybecomes energized, means for energizing said third relay when saidsecond relay is energized and said first relay is subsequentlydeenergized, means for de-energizing said second relay when said thirdrelay is energized and said first relay next becomes energized, meansfor maintaining said third relay in its energized condition after saidsecond relay becomes de-energized until said first relay again becomesde-energized, a source of train.

controlling current, and means for supplying current from said source tothe rails of said stretch under the control of said first relay or saidthird relay in accordance with trafiic conditions.

11. In combination, a stretch of railway track, a contact mechanismcomprising a first contact which is periodically opened and closed, tworelays, means controlled by said first contact and by both said relaysfor energizing one of said relays each alternate time said first contactis opened and closed, a sec- 0nd contact which is closed each time saidone relay is energized, a source of train controlling current, and meansfor supplyin current from said source to the rails 0 said stretch underthe control of said contact mechanism or said second contact inaccordance with trafiic conditions.

12. In combination, a stretch of railway track, a contact mechanismcomprising a contact which is periodically opened and closed, a firstand a second relay, means for at times energizing said first relay whensaid contact becomes closed, means for energizing said second relay whensaid first relay is energized and said contact is subsequently opened,means for de-energizing said first reiay when said second relay isenergized and said contact next becomes closed, means for tie-energizingsaid second relay when said contact is again opened, a source of traincontrolling current, and means for supplying current from said source tothe rails of said stretch under the control of said contact mechanism orsaid first relay in accordance with traific conditions.

13. In combination, a stretch of railway track, a contact mechanismwhich is periodically operated, a first and a second relay, meanscontrolled by said contact mechanism and by said first and second relaysfor energizing said first relay one time each two times said contactmechanism is operated, a source of train controlling current, and meansfor supplying current from said source to the rails of said stretchunder the control of said contact mechanism or said first relay inaccordance with trafiic conditions.

14. In combination, a stretch ofrailway track, a contact mechanism whichis periodically operated, a first and a second relay, means controlledby said contact mechanism and by said first and second relays forenergizing said first relay one time each two times said contactmechanism is operated, a third relay controlled by trafiic conditions insaid stretch, means including a front contact of said third relay and acontact of said contact mechanism for at times supplying the rails ofsaid stretch with current, and means including a back contact of saidthird relay and a contact of said first relay for at other timessupplying the rails of said stretch with current.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

PAUL N. BOSSART.

